Sutton

Sutton's population grew in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. At the same time there were changes in religion, housing tenure and ethnicity.

The population passed 190,000

In the decade leading up to the most recent census, the population of Sutton increased by 5.8%, from almost 180,000 to 190,000.

The addition of about 10,000 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Sutton was home to, on average, 31 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was lower than the average across London

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across London, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Sutton

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Sutton increased by two years, from 36 to 38 years.

This suburban area had a higher average age than London and remained slightly younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of just under 6,000 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 2,000.

About 16% of people in Sutton are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Sutton by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Sutton

Sutton saw London's largest fall in the proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In 2011, just over 9 in 10 (90%) in Sutton reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities, compared with 91% in 2001. The percentage who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.4% to 3.1%.

Across the region, Bromley saw the next largest decrease in the proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability (which remained close to 90%).

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across London

Percentage of usual residents that reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Sutton

The number of people in Sutton that described themselves as having no religion increased from just under 30,000 in 2001 to just under 47,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 17% to 25% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across London (from 16% to 21%), but at a slower rate than the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Sutton that described themselves as Christian decreased from just under 130,000 in 2001 to about 110,000 in 2011 (from 70% to 58%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from about 13,000 to just under 14,000. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 7.4% to 7.1%.

Just over 8,000 people (2.1%) said they were Hindu, up from about 3,700 in 2001 (4.2%).

The population without a religion in Sutton increased by 8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Sutton by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Sutton that rented privately increased from 9.3% to 16% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage that lived in social housing remained close to 15%, while the percentage of Sutton households that owned their home decreased from 74% to 68%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a slower rate here than the figure for the whole of London (from 15% in 2001 to 25% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Sutton increased by 6.6 percentage points

Percentage of households in Sutton, London and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Sutton

The number of people in Sutton from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 9,700 in 2001 to about 22,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 5.4% to 12% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across London (from 13% to 18%) and the average across England (from 5.2% to 8.0%).

The number of people in Sutton from the White ethnic groups decreased from just over 160,000 in 2001 to just under 150,000 in 2011 (from 89% to 79%). The number of residents from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from just over 4,600 to just over 9,100 (from 2.6% to 4.8%).

About 7,100 people (2.1%) said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), up from just over 3,700 in 2001 (3.8%).

The population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in Sutton increased by 6.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Sutton by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

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